Switch button



Aug. 13, 1929. T. l.. PARKER SWITCH BUTTON Filed Dec. 27, 1926 Qwe? 1790771625 Z, Par/her Patented Aug. i3, 1929.

S'lATh NARNI' OFFICE.

THOMAS L. PARKER, OF CHICAGO, IIiLllWUIS, ....S'Etilll TO THE STANDARD ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING C0., USF ClllIGl-llfr), ILLINIE, it. CGEEPURATIGM OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed December al?, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in switch buttons and more particularly to buttons of this character which are used in connection with rotary electrical switches.

An object of applicants invention is the production ot a switch button which may be quickly assembled and attached to the stem of. a rotary snap switch, thereby ett'ecting a great saving in time.

Another object ot applicants invention is the production oit a button tor a rotary snap switch which will resiliently secure the cover tor the .movable parts in place.

Another object ol applicantls invention is the production o'lE a construction which will permit the use for switch buttons oil materials such as porcelain and others in which metals are not readily molded or cast. y

A further object of my invention is the provision ot a switch button ot the above type including in its construction a nonconduct-ive body having a bore Aa sleeve positioned within the bore with a coil spring surrounding the same, together with improved means seated within the outer open end of the bore cooperating with the sleeve whereby to prevent displacement of the sleeve.

A. still turther object of my invention is the provision of a switch button. wherein the relative parts of the same are so con strueted and arranged that they may be quickly and readily assembled and when in. assembled position retained against displacement, Y

Many other objects and advantages `ot' the construction Aherein shown and described will be obvious Ato those skilledin the art :trom the disclosure herein given.

To this end inyinvention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation ot a rotary type switch illustrating `my improved button applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the button;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. Il is a perspective View of the washer plate;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section illustrating in modilied l'orm a part of the invention;

6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating` another form ot the invention;

lliig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating still another form of the invention5 and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating still another torni of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated in lig. l my improved switch button applied to a rotary type of electric switch generally indicated by the reference chai actor l, and my improved switch includes a central body portion Q having reduced wings 3 at opposite sides thereof forming linger pieces whereby the button may be readily grrafrsped for imparting rotary movement thereto. The body oi. the button is formed with a bore 4l and one tace of the body is provided with a substantially circumferential rib 5 surrounding the outer opening oit the bore so as toprovide a substantially larger entrance to the bore.

Positioned within the bore 4 is an internally threaded sleeve 6, the inner end of which is solid in cross section and provided with a substantially `rectangular head 7 which snugly within the bore7 and as the head is somewhat larger than the eX- terior ot the sleeve 6 the sleeve may be spaced `from the walls ot the bore as shown in Fig. 2.

its stated heretofore7 the sleeve 6 is in tcrnally threaded and removably arranged in the 'threaded sleeve is the bearing member S which supports the movable Contact member of the rotary switch. Surrounding the sleeve and disposed within the bore 4 is a coil spring 9, the inner end of which bears against thc head 7, and said spring is retained within the bore by means ot the plate l() which is positioned within the chamber formed by the rib 5 whereby to close the outer end of the bore, and as the plate l0 is termed with a central opening ll which snugly receives the sleeve 6, it will be apparent lthat the spring 9 will be retained in its ctiective position within the bore. rllhe perimeter ot the plate l0 is 'formed with a plurality of spring hngers l2 which incline away trom the peripheral edge of the plate toward their outer ends so that when the plate is positioned within the chamber formed by the riby 5 the outer ends of the fingers 12 will have a tendency to frictionallv vparts willbe properly assembled and due to the interfitting engagement will be securely retained in position. The movable contact bearing member 8 may be quickly attached to the sleeve 6 or detached therefrom as desired, this partof the device being the well known type in use at the present time.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the relative construction of the parts are the same as in the preferred form, but in the form shown in Fig. 5 it will be noted that the inner wall of the rib 5 is formed with an annular bead 13 behind which the lingers 12 will position themselves after the plate 10 has been properly placed in the position over the outer end of the bore 4 so as to positively retain all parts of the. device in their positions, this bead 13 being placed upon the innerv wall of the rib 5 in case it should be found necessary not to rely wholly upon frictional contact upon retaining the parts in position. In Fig. 6, I have illustrated another form of the invention wherein the inner wall 'of the rib 5a is formed with an an.- nular notch 14, the off-set portion of the notch forming an annular shoulder against which the outer ends of the lingers 12 abut when the plate 10 is properly positioned so as to securely retain the plate in place. This notch 14 may be either formed as a single circumferential notch or as a series of spaced notches corresponding to the number of lingers on the plate. V

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated still another form of the invention wherein the plate 10 is eliminated and the inner wall of the rib 5 is formed with an annular recess 15 and instead of using the plate 10, I provide a substantially thick washer member 16, the

' peripheral edge of which is provided with a channel or recess 17 adapted to be positively disposed relative tothe annular recess 15, and when the washer member 16 is placed within the rib 5 a split ring 18 previously placed within the channel 17 will, when the washer 16 reaches the outer end of the bore in the body of the button, spring into the recess 15, or in other words, the outer edge ofthe ring will fit within the recess 15 so Vthat .the ring is positioned in such manner as to form a stop for the washer 16 and prevent its removal from theJ interior of the rib 5, thus retaining the parts of the button in proper assembled relation.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated still another form of the invention wherein the inner wall of the rib 5c is formed with an undercut groove 19 forming inclined side walls E20, and the plate 10 is of suiiicient size to pass through the restricted mouth of the rib and the lingers 12 disposed on an incline relative to the upper face of the washer with their outer ends in biting contact with the inclined wall to retain the plate 10 against outward movement. The plate 10', however, may be made of resilient material and of a size larger than the mouth of the rib 5c and sprung into the rib and disposed beneath the undercut wall if so desired.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a switch but` ton which is comparatively simple in its construction. The button is of such construction that the body member which includes the wings 3, may be formed of any suitable non-conductive material such as hard rubber, bakelite, porcelain, or any vitreous material.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without dcparting from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described including a body having a bore, a sleeve removably arranged in the bore, and a stop plate mounted on the sleeve and closing said bore, said stop plate having resilient fingers gripping the walls of said bore.

2. A button of the class described including a body having a bore therein, a sleeve removably arranged in the bore, a coil spring surrounding the sleeve, and stop plate mounted upon the sleeve for retaining the spring within the bore and the sleeve against lateral movement, said stop plate having resilient ngers gripping the walls of said bore.

3. In a button of the character described, a body having a bore therein, oppositely disposed wing portions on the body, the outer end of said bore being enlarged, a sleeve in the bore having a head at its inner end, a coil spring within said bore, a stop plate positioned within the enlarged end of the bore, and a plurality of projections on said stop plate having yielding contact with the wall of the bore.

4E. A button of the character described, a body having a bore, a sleeve removably arranged in said bore, a stop plate arranged Within the outer end of the bore and embracing the Sleeve7 and resilient means on said plate for retaining said plate in active position.

5. A device of the Character described n eluding a body formed With a bore having an enlarged end, a sleeve lnovably arranged n the bore, a stop plate mounted on said sleeve and arranged in the enlarged end of said bore, means on said sleeve and engag- 10 ing` said stop platefor urging said sleeve into said bore, and yeldable ngers on said plate for engagement with the Wall of said bore to retain said plate in the bore.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 15 signed my name.

THOMAS L. PARKER. 

